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Mercury Mariner Hybrid
beartraprr
Member Posts: 11
in Mercury
I bought a new Mercury Mariner Hybrid. On the window sticker it said standard equipment - Radio Satellite Ready - Plays MP3's. Guess what, if you have the UPGRADED Radio/NAV system ($3700. Plus) It is NOT SATELLITE capable, nor will it play MP3 files. FORDS solution is an aftermarket velcro it to the dash Satellite radio from Best Buy. What a crock...This also applies to the Ford Escape. The dealer even looked it up and said it is Satellite capable....Beware if you want Satellite. Also, the navigation system is very awkward and difficult to use, unlike the system in say their Mountaineer which is great. FORD BLEW IT ON THIS.
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After tax and trade in, it should run in the $406 a month range.
With the Tax credit, hopefully will also reduce the initial
cost and will be an additional savings. Previously, I had
an older Mercury Villager Mini Van...and miss the roominess
and larger cargo area....Really havn't had the car long enough to use the navagation system a whole lot, but when I get accustomed to all the features, I'm sure it will come in very handy....The audio system is very adequate...the six disc compartment under the passenger seat is strange, however, most efficient and easy to use..I do miss the automatic head light control on and off....No big deal though...The experience in electric mode is certainly different...Really quiet operation...Much like my electric
golf cart...My wife really enjoys driving MY hybrid..likes
the compactness of the car and warning system for objects
behind the car...She says, "I can park it on a dime"...Sitting higher in the SUV gives her more confidence in driving...Hope this info is helpfull to you...
It has been quite solid. I use it mostly for commuting (30 minutes and about 15-20 miles each way - twice a day). MPG hovers around 31 if I drive economically - drops to 29-30 when I am late, driving non-hybridish, etc.
I did have it in a couple of days after purchase because the hybrd display (this vehicle has the nav system with hybrid display) stopped working - no MPG graphs, no power transfer display. After swapping the dash unit with another vehicle (no luck), they checked and found a Ford advisory about this symptom being caused by a failed module (an fuel economy power flow interface module). Swapping that module corrected the problem.
The vehicle drives well. This one is loaded (premium package, moonroof). There is an occasional rattle (metal clinking - like a seatbelt buckle) that is in the left rear area, most pronounced when I have passengers in the back seat - I don't know that this is a quality thing, or just something I have to track down and secure/move.
The navigation system stinks, IMHO. Response time is slow, 12 CD's are a pain (you can't load them in the 6 CD changer), and the "driver protection" interlock insures you can't program it most of the time (no destination selection allowed when the vehicle is in motion - so your passenger can't do anything to help). If it weren't for the fact you have to get the nav system to get the hybrid fuel economy/energy flow display (and why get a hybrid if you don't have a pretty display to show it working
Things I wish Mercury had included are:
- auto headlamps (it's been a long time since I had a car without these - it is a minor annoyance to remember to manually turn lights on and off).
- exterior temperature sensor (really - the thing can tell you where all the electrons are, but doesn't have a clue about the temperature on the far side of the glass - for $500+ installed, you can get Ford's temp/compass/homelink rear view mirror)
- Homelink transmitter - I just want to get the garage door opener out of my line of vision.
FORD blew it on this vehicle in my opinion. I would have never bought it knowing what I know now. That $3700. nav/radio system is worthless. Ten miles from home using it to take me home puts me on side streets, once it took me down a dead end and then a dirt alley. The selling dealer also told me it had a 110 volt outlet in it, still have not found that...
If you are thinking about one of these vehicles, check all of this out throughly....After I get my tax credit I am trading it in for a Lexus.. :mad:
Could I use it as a TOAD with the rear clutch not energized?
I took my first test-drive in a 2007 Mariner Hybrid yesterday. It was very nice. I particularly liked backing up under electric power only. The 2008 model will correct two major deficiencies in the previous models: lack of stability control and lack of a DVD navigation system. The 2005-2007 CD navigation system had a very small screen; the 2008 system will have a 6.5" screen!
The 2007 handles fine and has great visibility. The front and rear seats are comfortable. Cargo space is adequate. I presume the 2008 will be similar in these respects.
Better think twice and check with your tax advisor. If you sell the vehicle, you have to pay back part of the tax credit you received. You have to hold the vehicle for three years, if I recall correctly.
If you lease a hybrid the leasing company can take the tax credit according to the IRS website. So make sure you have that in writing if you are leasing.
The vehicle is acquired for use or lease by the taxpayer, and not for resale. (The credit is only available to the original purchaser of a new, qualifying vehicle. If a qualifying vehicle is leased to a consumer, the leasing company may claim the credit.)
I average approximately 23 mpg. I realize that advertised mpg estimates are probably a bit off, but 23 instead of the advertised 36 is pretty extreme. Ford should simply state that this vehicle will only get in the vicinity of the advertised mpg if it's driven on completely flat ground and the a/c is NOT used.
Today, my brakes went out. I dropped the vehicle off at the dealer and they said that the computer that controls the brakes simply went out. Oh well.....no one hurt, no big deal.
Overall, my reaction to this vehicle is that it feels as if a Design Engineer NEVER sat in the vehicle. There are so many little things that are poorly thought out and/or missing....mp3, strange navigation system, poorly engineered method of lowering back seats and the list goes on.
I completely accept personal responsibility for buying this car. I don't blame Ford. Not one bit. Ultimately, it's just terribly dissapointing that for whatever reasons (and I'm sure there are good ones) American Firms are not able to assemble the best and brightest and put out a first class product. I wish it were different.
*Note: This is only the reflection of one owner. I have owned many other Ford vehicles that performed flawlessly.
I commute to work every weekday, one hour drive and 40 miles each way on major highways, and I get about 29 mpg. This is if I keep my speed around 70 mph max and monitor the gas mileage with the in-dash screen. If I drive a little faster, I get just under 28 mpg. If I drive slower, or if I am driving on city streets rather than highways, I can get above 30 mpg. This is pretty close to the 29 mpg highway and 32 mpg city statistics I was provided with when I bought my car.
I am very happy with my Mariner Hybrid. There a few annoying things: the outdated navigational system (lame compared to my DH's Mercedes DVD navigational system), the loss of satellite radio capability with that navigational system, and the relatively ineffective heated seats (again, lame compared to my DH's heated seats). However, every vehicle has its issues, and the good gas mileage more than makes up for the annoyances.
My solution which I have not done yet is the LEXUS 400h....
I have had no problems with the mariner except for the initial lies from Ford about Satellite radio, but I HATE the vehicle...Its Noisy and the NAV system totally sucks.
John
Bought without the $3,700 "useless" option...no sun roof, etc. Used X plan, paid cash, plus got additional $2,500 incentives.
Plan to claim the nice tax credit soon $$
Gasoline consumption is about 30.5 miles per gallon. 16" tires. Sometimes higher...sometimes lower.
Last night I paid $1.96/gallon for West Georgia gasoline.
They are both heavy and big for a hybrid. Their design and engineering has been around for a fairly good time.
I feel that in many instances owners care of their vehicles is indirectly proportional to overall reliability. In some instances I feel the amount paid for the car is an indicator of how well the car will be cared for.
Do you ever notice that the low priced units of any make are usually dented-up, exterior unwashed, wheels dirty, windows filthy, and smoke coming out of tail pipe? Those are all indicators of poor operation and maintenance and the reward for this neglect is decreased reliability.
The last Ford that I owned was a 1999 Ford SVT Contour. It had a recall once for something minor...but...overall...it was a extremely reliable vehicle.
The Honda Fit might be a reliable vehicle with great interior room and good gas mileage.
The ford FWD Escape Hybrid gets pretty good mileage. Better than the Mariner Hybrid 4WD.
I'm praying for snow or ice so I can see how our Mariner Hybrid 4 wheel drive handles it. I work at a power plant and we always have to come in to work to keep the juice flowing to everyone.
Good luck with your first new vehicle...
Where does Mercury advertise their hybrid gets 36?
My Mariner Hybrid is rated 32 city/ 29 highway, and I actually get between 30 and 31 in mixed suburban driving.
I don't think that the 2008 hybrid model, gets the stability control.
http://www.edmunds.com/new/2007/mercury/marinerhybrid/index.html
I understand that on January 26, Ford/Mercury began production of the 2008 Escape and Mariner.
thanks
Be sure and report back the results. Even the dealers don't have enough "experienced hybrid drive technicians".
As a regular car buyer from Minnesota, I should not have to try to track down a mechanic in Mass. to solve my problem of awful gas mileage with the 2007 Mercury Mariner Hybrid. Ford/Mercury or the dealer should stand behind their product instead of taking no responsibility and simply using the company line of "Well, gas mileage varies with conditions, drivers blah, blah, blah". When you are getting about 18 and should be getting at least 30, something is obviously wrong.
It took you two minutes to find a single mechanic on Google? That means there aren't a lot of them.
Most of the hits were people talking about how they could train mechanics, or the lack of mechanics, etc.
Lincoln Mariner Photos
Is someone available in FL to drive it periodically? Hybrids will go flat battery in about 2 weeks... :sick:
For your MN winters, I have heard of others having success using cardboard to block their radiator. This keeps the engine warm. One guy claimed to have blocked the entire radiator and driving up and down hills on the interstate in temps below 25 kept him in the normal range without overheating. Be careful not to overheat. People have claimed to get about the same mileage as they do in the summer (32 mpg or so).
Spring weather seems to produce the best(highest) MPG's. I'm certain fall will mirror spring.
No mechanical or electrical problems after 15K miles operation.